Applicator



July 28, 1959 AH. K. RIEL -l 2,896,238

APPLICATOR Original Filed Feb. 23, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 lll/ll July 28, 1959 H. K. RIEL 2,896,238 A APPLICATOR n s l g United States Patent() Continuation of application SerialNo. 489,981, February 23, 1955. This application November 14, 1955, Serial N0. 546,698

1 Claim. (Cl. 15f137) The present invention relates to an applicator for viscous materials. A particular embodiment of the invention is a lip paint applicator which may be carried in a ladys purse.- rIhis application formsa continuation of the application Serial No. 489,981 filed February 23, 1955, now abandoned.. 1

Lip paint and paste applicators' may embody various details of construction, but the majority employ a positive pressure from a single piston to f orce the paste or paint directly onto the applicator. Although such action will deliver the paste or paint to the applicator, it does not necessarily insure the uniform delivery of a predetermined charge to the applicator. In addition, such paints and paste being normally composed of'oils, pigments, and in some cases waxes, may display a tendency to separate upon standing. With a sealed unit,there is little opportunity to mix .the materials. As a result,a variation in consistency may be experienced when the contents are delivered to the applicator. Y

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an' applicator for viscous materials ICC l nose and valve mechanism shown diagrammatically in Figs. 3 through 7.

. Fig. 9 is van end view of the spider.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section ofthe spider shown in Fig. 9 taken along section 10-10.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the plunger disc.

Fig. 12 is a sectioned view of the plunger disc shown in Fig. 11 taken along section 12-12.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in full section of the reservoir valve.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section of the annular valve seat.

To repeat, the invention deals with an applicator for lip paint, pigmented pastes and the like. The present illustrative embodiment of the invention shows `it in an elongated pencil shaped form intended for use as a ladysA lipstick applicator. Fig. ,l shows the pleasing external conguration which can be achieved with an applicator such as contemplated by the invention.` Fig. 2 more clearly reveals the relationship of the internal component parts of the lip paint applicator, and clearly illustrates how the small parts can be iitted within the contines of which delivers a predetermined charge of material to the applicator head in response' to a .pushbutton action by the user. A relatedl object of the' invention is to insure the delivery 'of awell mixed paint or paste to the applicator head. l

Anotherv object ofthe invention is to provide an applicator, the components of which, although small, may be mass produced within economical tolerances.

Ftuther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of an exemr plary embodiment of' the invention proceeds, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspectivev view of a lip paint applicator illustrative ofthe present invention. l

Fig. Z is an exploded perspective Vview ofthe lip paint applicator shown in its closed `or carrying condition in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the valve mechanism of the lip paint applicator showing the'position of the components in the released'condition.' v

Fig. 4 is Van enlarged section of the valve mechanism showing the position of the components as the changing cycle begins by depressing the plunger.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of the valve mechanism of the lip paint applicator showingthe relation of the an applicator comparable in size to a pencil or a fountain pen.

The outstanding advantages of .the present invention stem from the unique valve mechanism employed. Although it will be appreciated that numerous alternatives and equivalent constructions may be employed to achieve the same sequential result, as illustrated by the two Ispecies shown, the invention relies upon the combination ofvfunctions performed by the structural elements.A l

In essence, the operation of the valve mechanism of the applicator relies upon delivering the paint or paste tothe applicator by a combination of positive and negative pressure applications. Thenegative pressure application assists in preventing the pigment from separating from the paste in the reservoirand consequently insuring even application of pigmented paste throughout the use of the supplied material.; Thepositive pressure, on` the` other hand, insures the delivery of a measured charge of paint or paste to the applicator head when each operational .v cycle is executed. Theseprinciples ofoperation willbe more ully appreciatedfas the detail of the structure and operation of an exemplary embodimentv is -followed'- Y,

As will be seen from a reference to Fig. 2, thelip paint applicatorjll) contemplates a reservoir housing 11 'l and an applicator head 12 removably secured to the lres.-

ervoir housing `11. Withinthe reservoir housing 11 will belfound a charge ofsuitably pigmented and `prepared lip paint or paste 14. An applicator headcap 15 is provided of sufficient internal dimension to snugly and yet removably fit over the applicator head. The cap y15 closes the-lip Apaint vapplicator for carrying conveniently in a ladys purse. When the entire -unit is assembled, and readied vfor'fuse,` the only visible parts are the applicator head 15, the reservoir housing 11, and the plunger componenrparts'when the plunger 'has been fully de- Fig. 7 is an enlarged section yof the valve mechanism ofl the lip paint applicator showing the components in the same position as in Fig. 3, but illustrating how the lip paintor paste has been moved forwardly toward the applicator brush as a result of rcompleting the cycle diagrammed in Figs. 3 through 6.,

Fig. Sis an enlarged section of the lip paint applicator The operation of the unique valve mechanism will be best appreciated by reviewing the operation of a typical charging cycle illustrated in Figs. 3 through 7. Prior to use; the cap 15 is removed from the applicator` head -12 sothat visual inspection may be made of the amount of lippaint or paste deposited upon the brush bristlesy 18. 1 t As shown in Fig. 3, prior to actuating the plunger button 16, the lip paint or paste 14 is free to move into the chamber 19 defined by the internal portion ofthe applicator head` 12. When the plunger button 16 is depressed the plunger rod 20 transmitsa forward motion-to the reservoir va1ve21v thereby seating it against the annularvalve seat Z2v as shown in the relationship of the componenty partsV in Fig.v 4. At this point the conical spring24,i n the forwardportion of the applicator head chamber, is 'urged vinto compression and yieldablyv re-l sists additional 'forward motion of the valve In addi- .l

tion, `sufficient energy is built A-up tomove the valve 021 back to its original released position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

" After the reservoir valve :'21 ihas "seated V"itself within the annular valve seat 22, the operator continues-tede- Apress the plunger button 16-and'move the Ivalve assembly" 'forwardfto "the Jposition "shownin Figf-S. `In vthe course of this motion the reservoir area Jwithin' the-res- 'l' ervoir housing 11 iwhere the 'lip paint 141s contained enlarges, andY consequently the pressure within the lip paste area is reduced. Sincethe Apressure within the 'applicator head Achamber 19 has --been correspondingly increased by this forward motion, some equalization of pressure rwill come through 'leakagearound the plunger button V1.6 juncture with the reservoir housing 11. This "action causes va turbulence withinthe lip paint paste 14 and Vconstantly tends to mix the pigment and vehicle'oils lin thecourse of operation, thereby `reducing the possizbilityof a separation of the lippaint components. This action also yserves to movefthe paste-or pigment forward fin the -reservoir Aimmediately behind the `reservoir valve 21.

When the plunger button 16 is released the coil spring `24 begins to move the spider 25back toward the original position of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 3j Since the spider 25 has open areas between its webs 26, the lip paste or paint 14 which has been movedforwardly by the forward 4motion of the'reservoir'valve2l then'passes through the areas defined by the 4webs 26 asthe valve seat 22 and `spider 25 return to ltheir original position. At :this point it will be noted that'the reservoir valve span- Aner-'42 is of'sucient length `so'that the reservoirvalv'e 21 and spider 25 alternatively engage the valve seat 22. When the valve assembly returns, as shown in Fig. 6, the reservoir valve 21 is `unseated from the valve seat22 `and consequently permits the lip paste 14 to migrate forwardly through the valve seat hollow central portion and between the webs of the spider 25 on into the forward applicator head chamber 19 as lshown bythe arrows in Fig. 6.

When'complete `release is achieved,- as illustrated in Fig. 7, the applicator head forward chamber 19becomes filled with the lip paint or paste 14 and the valve assembly is returned to its original position as shown'in Fig. 3. The condition of the applicator head has been changed, of course, by filling the forward applicator head chamber 19 with lip paste 14.

Upon beginning the second cycle, the lip paint or paste within the reservoir is moved forward and'prepared for release into the forward housing chamber 19 as outlined above, but at the same time a positive pressure is placed upon the lip paint or paste in the forward housing. This results because the valve cone 21 when seated in the valve ring 22 for its forward travel, is converted into a piston which divides the forward chamber 19 from the reservoir chamber.

The foregoing description illustrates/how Ythe unique valve mechanism described is double-actingl in the sense that negative pressure delivers the lip paint or paste throughout a portion of the cycle, andryet positive pressure is applied to the paint throughout'the'inal discharge to the applicator brush 18.

The details of the component parts willV be more fully appreciated |by referring to the detailed drawings in Figs. 8 through 14. In Fig. 8 it -will be fseen that the applicator head 12 contemplates an annular external shoulder 26a and threaded rear skirt 28. An internal shoulder 29 extends inwardly at the rear portion of the applicator body |base, rbeveled on Ibothsides vto permit convenient assembly. Sincethe Yapplicator head body 12 will probably tbe molded `of a semi-yieldableplastic material, the valve seat 22 can be inserted by slightly springing the Askirt 28 of the applicator head. In thegparticular nstanceillustrated` in Fig. 8, the chamber 19'withinthe 'applicator housing is divided into a forward chamber 30 and a rearward-chamber 31. The forward chamber 30 houses the coil spring 24.

The spider 25 is shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. Its construction contemplates three webs 26 and a boss 34 which engages the coil spring 24. Alternative constructions are contemplated vwhich '.will permit the passage of paint and also support the valve Seat for its engagement with the reservoir val'v'e.

The plunger button sealing disc 35 shown in Fig. l2 has a hollow bore 36 to receive the plunger rod 20. A shouldered portion 38 vat-the rear portion of the sealing 'disc abuts the plunger 'button A`16.

The construction of the reservoir valve 21 vis shown in greater detail in the enlarged crossfsection appearing as Fig. 13. There it will be seen that the reservoir cone 39 slopes at an acute angle in order to permit the free vflow of lip paint or/paste over its surface into the forward chanilber of theapplictoibead. A hollow bore 40 is provided Within the conical'va'lve forward portion to receive the plunger rod 20. The frustoc'onical portion 41 of theY reservoir valve 21 is angled to mate with a similarly 'shaped chanfered portion 44 of the annular valve scat 22. The spanner shaft 42 of the reservoir valve 21 should be su'liciently' 'stable' to transmit the forward motion of the plunger r'od 20 tothe remainder of the valve mechanism. Thebase end of 'the Spanner shaft 42 of the valve '21 maylbe ffay suitable configuration to appropriately engage the 'spider' 25.

The valve seat .22"is' s'liown iii/'Fig'. 14 as an annular ring Yhaving a chalferedseat `44 which engages the frustoconical section 41 of ,the Vreservoir valve 21. A chamfered forward edge 45 fof the valve s'eat 22 may be provided, if desired, to s's'ist'inrlseating the valve seat against `a shoulder (not shown) projecting inwardly from the wall of the chamber 19 to divide that chamber into the forward and the 4rearward chambersfS and 31. The chamfered edge 45 `also assistsin inserting the valve seat 22 within the chamberl whenit must pass over the conical shoulder 29 in applicator'lieadskirt 28.

4 lIt will be appreciated-lof course, that variations in the external configuration fof the component parts described in detail above may be necessitatedby manufacturing tolerances, the materials employed, andr other details of manufacture. Itis also contemplated that the parts may be changed in their .proportionate and engagement with theirhousings `and related structural members.

In addition, :slight variations are contemplated which will render .thefapplicatorY useful with a wide' range of viscous materials. Specically,it is contemplated that numerous additional .applications of .the applicator as illustrated may be found .otl'enthan Afor applying lip paint or paste. For Veir'ainple,.the 4structure may be used for touch-up paintkits, applying lubricant oil and grease to various parts, vand other applications where a viscous materialis tobeheld in aconned space by a removable reservoir. and delivered tofan applicator.

Although particular embodiments .of the invention have been shown and described fin full here, there is no intendon-to therebylimitfthe, inventionlto the details of such embodiments. .On.the1contrary, Vthe intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of zthe lapplicator .or fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention, specification, and appended claim.

- I claim as my invention:

`An Aapplicator for La 'viscous mate-'al .comprising in combinationan; applicator head'fhaving a hollow nose with applicator .means atl itsfforwardend, a reservoir housing securedto the applicator fhead, an Yannular oating valve seat `slidably mounted Jinfsid. reservoir housing and having acentiral.A passage `vtherethrough.along its axis, a slida'ble .valve iienfb'erhavingy al seatengaging portion engageable with said oatingA valve's'eat toclose the passage and having a spanner portion rigid with the seat engaging portion and extending from such portion and through the passage along said axis when the portion engages the seat, the Spanner portion being of a length greater than the length of the passage, a spider member mounted in the housing, said member having legs engaging the interior wall of the housing and having passages between the legs to permit material to flow past the spider, the spider being mounted at the end of said Spanner portion and the legs of the spider being engageable with the valve seat, and means for reciprocating the valve member and spider member so that when moved in one direction, the valve member will engage the valve seat thereby closinig the passage and moving the valve seat in a piston action,

and when reciprocated in the other direction, the valve 15 member moves away from the valve seat, opening the passage, and the spider memfber engages the valve seat and returns it to its original position for swbsequent operation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,470 Davey Jan. 23, 1906 10 1,260,139 Brown Mar. 19, 1918 2,033,197 Kinkade Mar. 10, 1936 2,309,861 Mureau Feb. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 929,420 France July 15, 1947 

